Archive for October 2009


A fraud?


Someone wrote…

Whenever I fill in one of those equal opportunity forms that asks your gender, I am never sure what to put and feel a fraud whatever I do fill in…. I am never happy ticking “transgender” as I don’t feel I am trans enough, and I’m very rarely able to pass as male— I usually end up ticking “female” because I think that’s how the world sees me. But I still feel like a fraud.

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?


Posted by on October 24th, 2009 at 08:00 am

your voice | 10 comments »

Profile: Miss Rach/Lorenn


Miss Rach/Lorenn

You can call me… Miss Rach, or Lorenn, depending on where we meet.

I identify as… A strong Woman. Better yet, Lady.

As far as third-person pronouns go, … She, Her, any feminine assimilation.

I’m attracted to… Butch girls. Butch bois. FTMs. Jew dykes if you must know. More importantly? Strong, independent, educated, and passionate individuals.

When people talk about me, I want them to… know that my attitude and my personality should project through any gender or boxed classification they may see me in. I may be a strong femme with an attitude, but there is much more than meets the eye.

I want people to understand… that the people in my life who I choose to surround myself with, gay, straight, trans, polysexual, androgynous alike, we are people who should be heard, seen, and respected. As individuals. Not a classification, group, or a box to check on your license. Exotic dancer, nurse, lover or friend, whatever my title may be to you, I am not a possession or object. Please see me as a person, a human being.

About Miss Rach/Lorenn
Nurse by day, exotic entertainer by night. I do what I do because I am good at it, and thoroughly enjoy BOTH of my jobs, contrary to popular belief. I also plan to help my beautiful girlfriend spear-head the making of a gender neutral bathroom. Coming to stores near you!

» Define yourself. «


Posted by on October 23rd, 2009 at 04:00 pm

profiles | 1 comment »

BIker Girl



Amazing BIker, originally uploaded by anja louise verdugo.


Posted by on October 23rd, 2009 at 09:59 am

faces | 1 comment »

Tight jeans and heels.


Someone wrote…

Sometimes, I feel the most “masculine” in tight jeans and heels, and the most “feminine” when I bind.

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?


Posted by on October 23rd, 2009 at 08:00 am

your voice | 4 comments »

Stepping Out


Bravery takes many forms.


Posted by on October 22nd, 2009 at 04:00 pm

video | 7 comments »

Androgyny in Second Life



Yet another profile pic! ^^, originally uploaded by Theodore DuCasse // Zanzo.


Posted by on October 22nd, 2009 at 09:59 am

faces | Comment »

Recommendation: Gender Wiki


XylophoneGender recommends…

wikia

Gender Wiki
An educational & informational resource

This Wiki may be just a few articles, but since anyone can edit it, there’s plenty of potential. Scrolling down to the “Help Out” section and adding an article name works, too.

» Recommend something. «


Posted by on October 22nd, 2009 at 08:00 am

recommendations, websites | 1 comment »

Profile: Nibby


Nibby

You can call me… Nibby.

I identify as… an androgynous pansexual, if you’re talking about gender and sexuality. I identify as a lot of things. Most predominately, I identify as Nibby.

As far as third-person pronouns go, … most of the time people use feminine ones and, while I don’t mind, it always has a bittersweet sting to it. Even when they try to be “witty” and use male ones, there’s still that same sting. It’s like trying to fit a square block into a round hole and the hole’s sick of stretching to try to make it work. I personally try to avoid using pronouns to describe myself, not just for gender reasons, but also because I have a tendency to make them plural.

I’m attracted to… people. But at the same time, I hate people. I like individuals. Singular persons. If you’re a multiple person, I think that’s dandy too. How about, I’m attracted to beings. Yeah, that works. I like beings.

When people talk about me, I want them to… be honest. I don’t care what they say, I just hate lying even if they think it’ll make something easier for someone to hear. I instinctively know when someone’s lying to me. And even if it’s “for my own good,” it hurts more than the truth ever would.

I want people to understand… …do I really have to add something to that statement? I want people to understand. That’s it. I don’t care what or where or how but being able to understand can lead to beautiful things. The only thing holding them back is that, sometimes, they don’t want to understand. I can’t force that. You can’t either. It’s sad really.

About Nibby
I’m a writer predominantly. I paint, sketch, play bass clarinet (although due to lack of one, that’s been put on hold), play video games, and moderate some online forums dedicated to various things. I’m definitely odd and often see beauty in the twisted and macabre.

» Define yourself. «


Posted by on October 21st, 2009 at 04:00 pm

profiles | 2 comments »

Army Girl



army girl :), originally uploaded by jonagurl.


Posted by on October 21st, 2009 at 09:59 am

faces | Comment »

An impression!


Someone wrote…

If I get a spot at this audition, I think I’m going to show up dressed super-femme and do a male monologue. Even if I don’t get cast, I’ll certainly make an impression!

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?


Posted by on October 21st, 2009 at 08:00 am

your voice | 1 comment »

Profile: Crystal


Crystal

You can call me… Crystal or Chris

I identify as… a high fem or a masculine female

As far as third-person pronouns go, … female. On days when I can’t stand hearing them, I won’t leave the house, so don’t worry.

I’m attracted to… my partner(s) :)

When people talk about me, I want them to… know I’m not ‘faking’ for attention.

I want people to understand… I’m different, even when I don’t look it. When I do look different, I wish they weren’t afraid of me.

About Crystal
Since ’03 I’ve noticed I’ve felt very masculine in the colder months, including downright male sometimes. In the summer, I’m so, so girly. I’ve read a lot (really, a lot) of books on female masculinity and genders and transgenderism, and there is never anyone like me. I have trans and cis friends and I swear they all think I’m crazy.
BUT: I’ve figured something out. If I’m male in a dream, I wake up and have a masculine day. If I’m female in my dream, I want to go shopping and buy more dresses. (I have a lot of clothes for a few different genders.) It’s like my subconscious decides.
I’m a mystery. And it’s very lonely.

» Define yourself. «


Posted by on October 20th, 2009 at 04:00 pm

profiles | 14 comments »

Amigas y Rivales



Rival Queens, originally uploaded by The ayes have it.


Posted by on October 20th, 2009 at 10:00 am

faces | 1 comment »

Recommendation: Additive Gender


maymay recommends…

prom date

Additive Gender
A prom photo.

Additive gender is the idea that by amplifying signals from one gender, you don’t necessarily negate the existence of others. Here’s a picture from a close friend’s prom in which she goes as one of her same-sex friends’ date. She plays a masculine role but rather than decide to try and pass by, for example, binding her breasts, she decides that it’s more self-expressive to keep all her femininity present and simply add masculine overtones.
I think it’s stunningly sexy.

» Recommend something. «


Posted by on October 20th, 2009 at 08:00 am

photos, recommendations | 7 comments »

Profile: Jenna


Jenna

You can call me… Jenna

I identify as… Jenna… outside of that, I don’t think about it.

As far as third-person pronouns go, … “She” usually works best for people, it’s their usage though since I rarely talk about myself in third-person (unless I’m twittering or updating my facebook status).

I’m attracted to… Confidence and humor, the ability to hold an interesting conversation, fun-loving and all that. Physically, it’s a crap-shoot… I never know what I’m gonna like until I see it… and it’s never what I expected.

When people talk about me, I want them to… Say whatever they gotta say. Good and bad are just two sides of the same coin… At least they’re saying something.

I want people to understand… Life is short. Hugs and kisses are awesome. Music and laughter are key.

» Define yourself. «


Posted by on October 19th, 2009 at 04:00 pm

profiles | 4 comments »

Aversión



Aversión, originally uploaded by JV_UY.


Posted by on October 19th, 2009 at 10:00 am

faces | 3 comments »

Clearly.


Someone wrote…

When they ask for my gender but only offer “male” and “female,” and no “other” option on surveys for my school, I often turn them in blank with the explanation, “Clearly, I’m not of a demographic whose opinion matters to them.” It makes me feel pretty good when I make it obvious to one more person that there should always be a third option for gender.

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?


Posted by on October 19th, 2009 at 08:00 am

your voice | 6 comments »

To most of the outside world…


Someone wrote…

To most of the outside world, my partner and I are a heterosexual couple, and I am a heterosexual woman. To my partner and some select people, I am genderqueer. To some strangers, I appear as a bloke.

It’s good fun sometimes, but some days I feel like I’ve failed on every count. I’m a failed feminist because I’m attracted to men, because I come home to a man. I’m a failed gay man because I’m in the closet. I’m a failed FTM because I still like to present female.

I guess what it comes down to is that sometimes, it just sucks not having a comfortable, clearly labeled gender box.

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?


Posted by on October 19th, 2009 at 08:00 am

your voice | 8 comments »

Mick Jagger



Mick Jagger/James Fox making his exit from Performance, originally uploaded by BEAT NIK.


Posted by on October 18th, 2009 at 10:00 am

faces | 3 comments »

Recommendation: What Happened to Lani Garver


A reader recommends…

what happened to lani garver

This is a fantastic story, probably my favorite book of all time. It takes place in a small town, containing a limited population with limited openness. It unravels a tale about a young cancer victim named Claire and her encounter with a strange ‘boy’ named Lani. Eventually, the two become friends, and between a potential recurrence of Claire’s disease and the conflict between Lani and gay-bashing highschoolers, a beautiful, sad, and inspiring story reveals itself to the reader. It teaches a life-altering lesson: “be kind to everyone, because you never know when you’re meeting an angel.”

» Recommend something. «


Posted by on October 18th, 2009 at 08:00 am

books, recommendations | 8 comments »

Suncatcher



, originally uploaded by miss_toodlebum.


Posted by on October 17th, 2009 at 10:00 am

faces | Comment »

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